Police encourage safetyThe Russellville Police Department (RPD) will participate in the statewide Click It or Ticket campaign beginning Monday and continuing through Nov. 30. "Russellville police officers will be on the lookout for seatbelt violations during the holidays," RPD Public Information Officer Drew Latch said. "We want everyone to have a safe holiday season." Latch said the holidays usually mean an increase in city traffic. "Accidents always increase aroun...

Vapor smoking prohibited at libraryElectronic smoking devices will no longer be allowed within 50 feet of any of the four branches of the Pope County Library System (PCLS). PCLS Director Shawn Pierce told the board of trustees during its regular meeting Wednesday that the Pope County Quorum Court passed an ordinance banning the devices from all county buildings. "The judge has included in that [ordinance] e-ciagrettes, e-cigars, e-pipes or anything under any other name or descr...

RVL Gift Guide just 3 days away!With Black Friday just over a week away, shoppers across the River Valley are gearing up for the biggest shopping day of the year. Wondering which items are the hottest in our area? Check out the latest edition of RVL, set for release Sunday. The latest edition of RVL features multiple pages of top holiday items selected by various businesses in the area. Be sure to pick up a copy of RVL before you bundle up and brave the crowds this holiday s...

Academy provides 'eye-opening' experienceNineteen Russellville residents graduated from the Russellville Police Department (RPD) 9th annual Citizen’s Police Academy on Tuesday after eight weeks of training. Jack Mann Jr., who completed the class and spoke during the graduation ceremony, said the academy was an “eye-opening experience.” “I didn’t realize all the skill and all the talent it takes to actually do police work,” he said. During the eight-week course, students participated ...

Coroner, public defender to revise budgetsThe Pope County Quorum Court Budget Committee declined to approve budgets presented to them Monday by the coroner and the public defender, asking both to make adjustments and come back to next week's budget meeting. Pope County Coroner Leonard Krout proposed a $115,445 budget for 2015, which is an increase of about $40,000 from 2014. Krout's proposal included an increase in part-time salaries from $7,208 to $18,590. However, $3,000 of the incr...

Activists oppose powerline projectNearly 100 residents turned out to the recent informational meeting hosted by activist groups Block Clean Line and Pope County and Arkansas Citizens against Clean Line Energy at the Dover Middle School Fine Arts Building. Organizer Gordon Millsap introduced the speakers, who each focused on a different negative facet of the proposed powerline project. Millsap’s wife, Allison, presented an overview of the proposal and Clean Line’s tentative par...

Alliance responds to talks of auditArkansas Valley Alliance for Economic Development (AVAED) Board of Directors Chairman Bryce Mobley said the board is not opposed to an external audit. "The alliance board welcomes a third-party, non-biased audit conducted by a reputable auditing firm, not located in Pope or Yell counties — our service area," Mobley said. The response followed a decision by the Russellville City Council's Finance Committee on Monday that authorized Alderwoman F...

Council to hear permit appealAldermen are scheduled to hear an appeal on Nov. 20 for a special-use permit request previously denied by the Russellville Planning Commission. The appeal for a special use permit to allow establishment and operation of an auto repair shop at 114 N. Elmira Ave. in Russellville was submitted by Stephanie Gray. Commissioners denied the request with a 5-3 vote in September. The appeal is listed on the Russellville City Council's agenda for its re...

Humphrey revises crematorium locationJim Bob Humphrey, president of Humphrey Funeral Services, is working on a new application to submit to the Arkansas State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors for consideration. He rescinded his initial proposal during the board's regular monthly meeting Thursday in Little Rock when an attorney representing local residents who oppose the crematorium said a new application should be submitted in order to change the location. "Although the b...

Free car seats, training availableThe Russellville Police Department (RPD) partnered with Arkansas Children's Hospital and the River Valley Circle of Friends to host a car seat event from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Wal-Mart in Russellville. Several officers will be on hand, along with technicians from Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center, to properly install car seats while teaching parents. Free car seats will be available at the event. "Make sure you bring your child with y...

Crematorium still on holdIt's back to square one for Jim Bob Humphrey, president of Humphrey Funeral Services, after he decided to change the proposed location of his crematorium. The Arkansas State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors was scheduled to vote on Humphrey's permit to construct a cemetery and crematorium next to Center Valley Elementary School during its regular monthly meeting Thursday in Little Rock. The permit was tabled twice before and the board ...

11-year-old dies in house fireJOHNSON COUNTY — An 11-year-old boy was killed and three others were injured in a house fire in Johnson County on Wednesday morning. Around 12:02 a.m., the Johnson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) responded to a fire on Forest Service Road 4250. A neighbor told authorities he was awakened by the boy's father who said that "his house was on fire and his son was still trapped in the residence," according to a news release. The neighbor and the boy...

Committee approves WiFi fundsThe Russellville City Council's Finance Committee approved during its regular meeting Monday appropriating funds from various grants for specific projects. The city received a $31,000 grant for cameras and WiFi at Russellville City Hall. The Finance Committee approved appropriating $28,000 of it for cameras. If the bid comes in lower than that, the remaining funds will be added to the $3,000 to be used toward WiFi. Finance Director Jerry McKau...

Harris seeks alliance auditThe Finance Committee authorized Alderwoman Freddie Harris to get bids from local companies to conduct an audit of the Arkansas Valley Alliance for Economic Development's 2013 budget and present the bids to the Russellville City Council during its Nov. 20 meeting for approval. "This audit will be used to show the financial deviance between the city and the alliance," Harris said, adding she wants the council to rethink its financial commitment...

Council gives plant 60 days to render a planThe Russellville City Council during a special meeting Monday approved requiring officials with Pilgrim's Pride Corporation to present a plan to squelch the stench coming from its Russellville rendering plant, Premium Protein Products. "My recommendation would be that we provide a very short period of time for Premium Protein Products to present to us an affirmative plan that will address this problem with some finality," Alderman Martin Irwin...

Pottsville, Atkins listed on safe city reportThe SafeWise Report, which comprises safety and home security blogs from more than a dozen authors, named Pottsville the eighth-safest city in Arkansas. "One of the reasons I feel we were selected has a lot to do with the chief of police, Blake Herren, and our city police officers," Mayor Jerry Williams said. "They are very dedicated officers who are committed to keeping our streets safe. "Our fire department, under the leadership of Brad Judk...

Body in burned car believed to be suspect's cousinAn arrest warrant filed Wednesday by the Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for a Pope County man indicated that the body found burned in a car in a Knoxville park is that of his cousin. According to the warrant obtained from Prosecutor David Gibbons, authorities believe the body found Saturday is Caleb Matthew Talkington, the cousin of Nathaniel Talkington, 25. The warrant indicated the 1998 BWM 500 found Saturday at Cabin ...

Gilkey re-elected, breaks recordBill Gilkey made history Tuesday when he was re-elected for a ninth term as Yell County Sheriff. "Now he will be the longest-running sheriff in Yell County," an official with the Yell County Clerk's Office said. Buford Compton previously held the record, serving as Yell County Sheriff for 16 years. Compton was elected eight times to the two-year-term position. Gilkey was first elected sheriff in 1999. He will begin his ninth term on Jan. 1, 20...